"After all this time, we're back here."
"Indeed Ratchet." Clank agreed, taking in the surroundings of the Great Clock for the first time in several years.
"Well, we'd better get going. Don't want to keep your old buddy Sigmund waiting, eh? Besides, I would rather have a last look round sooner than later. Don't want to delay our retirement from this hero business any more." Ratchet said whilst admiring the amazing architecture of the Great Clock.
"Yes Ratchet." Replied the small robot in agreement. "Ah, it appears he has already come to greet us."
As if on cue a medium sized robot came flying along towards the landing platform and came skidding to a stop just before hitting Aphelion.
"Sir! I mean, Clank! Welcome back!" Sigmund's excitement of having a visitor was obvious which put Clank at ease. Ratchet did not seem to fully notice the red robot's appearance however, the Lombax was still staring in awe at the clock at the centre of the universe; give or take fifty feet of course.
"It is good to see you again Sigmund,"
"If you'll follow me I'll take you round the place right now! I've got everything set up, as you requested."
Sigmund set off at a fair pace, tapping away at his computer with vigour whilst Ratchet and Clank strolled along behind him.
"You have been of great service to both me and Ratchet, Sigmund. We cannot thank you enough for doing this."
"No need to thank me. I'm glad to have some company and being able to show you round again, just like the old times!"
"Yes... Like those times." Clank replied with a melancholic tone to his voice. Ratchet took a sideways glance at him, "Anyway," Clank continued, quelling Ratchet's concern for his best friend, "Let us move onward."
Sigmund showed the duo around the whole of the Great Clock, making sure to make the tour as comprehensive as possible. The red robot added little anecdotes of his own, or sometimes ones that he had heard from Orvus, as well as recounting his and Clank's own adventures within the structure.
After several hours of Sigmund leading Ratchet and Clank around the trio finally arrived at the control room.
The Orvus chamber.
"Last time I was here..." Clank heard Ratchet mutter to himself before the Lombax shook his head slightly and continued forward.
The excitement of Sigmund was evident when he announced the last location on the tour, "And I give you, ladies and gentlemen! Lombaxes and robots! The, Orvus-"
Before Sigmund could finish his sentence a siren began wailing on the outside of the building. The tannoy announced 'dimension breach in the Polaris Galaxy, Cerullean Sector, Fastoon.'
Sigmund jumped at the sound of the alarm and began typing away furiously at his computer occasionally glancing around in thought before going back to his work.
After remaining silent for a minute or so, to allow the robot to concentrate on sealing the breach, Ratchet whispered to Clank "Hey Clank, are there still breaches around then."
"It appears so Ratchet. Although, it is to be expected with all of the time travel the Fongoids did in the past. Running the Great Clock is not easy work."
"Ah ha!" Came an overly loud exclamation from Sigmund "Aaaand." He hit the last key in a grandiose gesture, "Breach, closed!"
"Excellent work Sigmund, it seems you have taken very well to being a Senior caretaker" Both Clank and Sigmund chuckled.
"It seems so Clank! Anyway, now that breach has been sorted let us get on with seeing the Orvus chamber!"
"If... If you don't mind I'm just gonna wait out here." Ratchet asked, the sadness in his voice was clear. "I wouldn't want to... Y'know."
"Of course Ratchet," Clank replied, placing his small robotic hand on his friend's ankle, "I shall only be a minute." With a quick backward glance and a reassuring smile Clank strode off alongside Sigmund into the chamber leaving Ratchet brooding outside. Although, Ratchet was not entirely thinking about what had transpired in that room a few years past; Ratchet was more concerned about what was on Fastoon.
Why Fastoon? Normally Clank would have been the one telling me to be worried about something like this and I wouldn't give a damn, but now... Something makes me want to check it out.
Ah what the heck, I have nothing better to do now. I may as well visit Fastoon one more time.
Ratchet resolved to talk to Clank about it later once they were on their way with Aphelion. He was almost sure Clank would agree. What he wasn't sure about was what might have come through the breach.